Chinese grammar · Elementary (A2)
Comparisons: 比, 没有, 一样
How to compare with 比, 没有…那么 and 跟…一样, how to say “much bigger” or “a bit cheaper”, and 最, 越来越 and 越…越….
A 比 B + adjective
To say that A is bigger than B, use (bǐ): A B + adjective. Don't use (hěn) here: (zhè tào bǐ nà tào dà), this flat is bigger than that one. (gèng) before the adjective means “even more”.
To say how much bigger, add a word after the adjective: (yìdiǎnr), a bit; (duō le) or (de duō), much; or an exact amount. In a clothes shop, (dà yí hào), one size bigger, works the same way.
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào dà.) | This flat is bigger than that one. |
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào dà yìdiǎnr.) | This flat is a bit bigger than that one. |
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào dà duō le.) | This flat is much bigger than that one. |
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào dà de duō.) | This flat is much bigger than that one. |
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào guì wǔbǎi kuài.) | This flat costs 500 yuan more than that one. |
| (Zhè tào bǐ nà tào gèng dà.) | This flat is even bigger than that one. |
- 今天比昨天热。Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè.Today is hotter than yesterday.
- 这件比那件便宜一点儿。Zhè jiàn bǐ nà jiàn piányi yìdiǎnr.This one is a bit cheaper than that one.
- 有大一号的吗？Yǒu dà yí hào de ma?Do you have it one size bigger?
Not as … as: 没有…那么
A B + adjective means that A is not as … as B: (nà tào méiyǒu zhè tào nàme dà), that flat isn't as big as this one. This is the usual way to make a comparison negative. (nàme) can be left out.
(bù bǐ) also exists, but it means “no more … than” and is used to contradict someone: (wǒ bù bǐ nǐ gāo), I'm not taller than you (we're about the same).
- 今天没有昨天那么冷。Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān nàme lěng.Today isn't as cold as yesterday.
- 地铁没有出租车那么快，可是便宜多了。Dìtiě méiyǒu chūzūchē nàme kuài, kěshì piányi duō le.The metro isn't as fast as a taxi, but it's much cheaper.
The same: 跟…一样
A B means A is the same as B: (wǒ de shǒujī gēn nǐ de yíyàng), my phone is the same as yours. Add an adjective for “as … as”: (tā gēn tā bàba yíyàng gāo), he's as tall as his father. The negative is (bù yíyàng), different. (hé) can replace .
- 这件跟那件一样，就是颜色不一样。Zhè jiàn gēn nà jiàn yíyàng, jiùshì yánsè bù yíyàng.This one is the same as that one, only the colour is different.
- 北京的冬天跟哈尔滨不一样。Běijīng de dōngtiān gēn Hā'ěrbīn bù yíyàng.Winter in Beijing isn't like winter in Harbin.
- 我哥哥跟我一样高。Wǒ gēge gēn wǒ yíyàng gāo.My older brother is as tall as me.
The most, and more and more: 最, 越来越, 越…越…
(zuì) + adjective means “the most”: (zhè tào zuì piányi), this flat is the cheapest.
(yuèláiyuè) + adjective means “more and more”, often with 了 at the end: (tiān yuèláiyuè lěng le), it's getting colder and colder. 越…越… means “the more …, the more …”: (yuè kuài yuè hǎo), the sooner the better.
- 这三家店里，这家最便宜。Zhè sān jiā diàn li, zhè jiā zuì piányi.Of these three shops, this one is the cheapest.
- 他的血压越来越高。Tā de xuèyā yuèláiyuè gāo.His blood pressure is getting higher and higher.
- 雨越下越大。Yǔ yuè xià yuè dà.The rain is getting heavier and heavier.
- 你越锻炼，身体越好。Nǐ yuè duànliàn, shēntǐ yuè hǎo.The more you exercise, the healthier you'll be.